In honour of black history month, TVGuide.ca took advantage of this timely opportunity to analyze why the soap opera genre still refuses to acknowledge its primary audience in its own storylines by populating its canvas with minority characters. I couldn’t think of a better actor to discuss these wide range of issues and concerns than with one of its most respected, talented, and revered actors, Mr. James Reynolds.

Having played stalwart Police Commissioner Abe Carver since 1981, Reynolds shocked the industry by leaving Days of Our Lives 10 years later to replace Taurean Blacque as business tycoon Henry Marshall on daytime’s first black soap opera, Generations — a critically acclaimed project created by Canadian writer-producer Sally Sussman Morina. A year later, the former marine’s powerfully multifaceted portrayal earned the 61-year-old soap vet his first Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor (in 2004, he was nominated for his Days role in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category). After NBC unfairly cancelled the soap 22 months after its groundbreaking première, Reynolds returned triumphantly — albeit to the back burner — to Days, before being “fired” when the soap “killed off” Abe in its highly publicized serial killer storyline. Luckily, the Kansas native returned a year later when it was revealed that no one had actually perished at the hands of the killer.

Reynolds spoke with brave candor about the lack of minority representation on daytime TV.

TVGuide.ca: It’s been quite the roller-coaster ride behind the scenes in Salem! Are you nervous regarding the upcoming decision by NBC to either renew or cancel Days?
James Reynolds: No. We’ve all been through this before. The cast trusts all the parties involved — Sony, NBC, and Corday Productions — to make the right decision during the negotiations. Everyone wants to see the show continue — and on NBC. And, across the world. However, there are strategies in place if NBC doesn’t renew it, I believe. SOAPnet and ABC are possibilities.

TVG: That’s reassuring to know because Days is very popular in Canada. When NBC insinuated that Days would probably not air past 2009 when it cancelled Passions last year, I thought that was incredibly unfair to the cast and crew.
JR: I think so, too. Yeah, it was unfair. That statement, I think, scared most of our audience away. And now, we’re working very hard to recapture that audience that was lost.

TVG: Dena Higley is now your head writer, and Hogan Sheffer has left the building — what is the mood on the set?
JR: So far, it’s working out very well. We all think the sweeps shows that are airing now are pretty good. Sometimes, that’s not always the case during sweeps [laughs]. But in this case we all felt the work we were doing was going to resonate in a way it hasn’t in a long time.

TVG: I concur. Though, the sweeps stunt didn’t resonate with me as much as it could have, partly because it’s the umpteenth time the Bradys and DiMeras have been involved in an airline disaster and survived. What are the odds? Fly commercial, people! [laughs] Can we expect Abe to move to the front burner soon?
JR: Yes, I think so. Lexie is back — yet, again [laughs] — and she’s been promoted to Chief of Staff at the hospital. In many ways, Abe and Lexie are the power couple of Salem.

TVG: I’m very happy to see Days rectified Renée Jones’ [Lexie] multiple firings. She’s an extremely underrated actress — and I quite enjoy her character. Renée must be suffering a severe case of whiplash!
JR: [laughs] I am very glad she’s back!

TVG: Abe needs more family on the show — any plans to recast any of his offspring or relatives in the future?
JR: Days’ new casting director, Marnie Saitta, has not yet seen my real-life son, Jed, whom I think would be ideal as my on-screen son. He’s in my new play, Ravensridge [at The Fremont Centre Theatre beginning Feb. 23], playing a Russian detective. My understanding is Days is interested in having him come and audition to see how he could fit on the canvas.

TVG: The cast must be happy Drake Hogestyn [John] returned to the show; were you aware this was yet another publicity ruse spearheaded by executive producer Ken Corday?
JR: No — we thought John Black was dead. We’re so happy he’s back, and I personally think that John is a very interesting character now. I think Drake’s performance has been very entertaining.

TVG: As an actor, how do you find the inspiration to sell yet another death when no one really ever dies in Salem? The entire cast should win Emmys just for that.
JR: Yeah, we agree, too. [laughs] No, seriously, as far as the characters go, we must play it as if this is happening to them for the first time. It’s as simple as that. The audience is a different story. I think they feel, ‘Here we go again.’ Which is why I can pretty much assure them that they won’t be seeing another major character die in the foreseeable future. And if they do die, they will be dead. We have to work hard to get back our credibility.

TVG: I’d say. Last year, Victoria Rowell [ex-Dru, The Young and the Restless] labelled daytime ‘racist’. The U.S. has a woman and a black man running for president, yet daytime appears to be moving  backwards instead of forward with the world. Since you’re a black soap vet, I’m eager to hear your thoughts.
JR: Yes, I would have to agree with that assertion. It’s odd since daytime used to be groundbreaking in that respect. There is tremendous storyline potential for black characters on soaps, but it’s hard to convince the powers-that-be to acknowledge that the world is changing. You know, I’ve been tremendously disappointed for people of colour on soaps. Other than Victoria’s former show, Y&R, and our show, Days, no one has had that kind of racial presence throughout the years. I have to say, though, that I’m very proud that Days has allowed me to grow older as a black man on TV — which rarely happens in any genre. I think often times, daytime TV operates from a cocoon. They’re not looking around themselves. I can’t solely lay the blame on daytime TV, but it’s suspect when you consider the largest demographic watching daytime is blacks. They deserve to see their own stories reflected on their favourite shows.

TVG: It’s such a no-brainer, especially in an industry losing audience members each day.
JR: Exactly. Like you said, you need to look no further than our current electoral candidates — which no matter how it turns out, is bound to make history — [and see] that daytime is stuck in the past. Soaps are too focused on trying to attract the younger audience, yet the majority of Barack Obama’s support comes from voters under 30. You do the math. Producers in daytime are producing, often times I find, for their own parents instead of their own children.

TVG: I never thought of it like that. Why does the African-American/Canadian audience respond to the soap opera format so passionately?
JR: There are several reasons. One of the major reasons is why the white audience responds — which is our continuing storylines. Also, daytime is the medium that is still airing on broadcast TV; it’s the only genre that you can access free. A large number of African-Americans fall below the poverty lines and can’t afford to buy cable. As more people get cable, and things change in this country, daytime should be able to revive itself in many ways, I think.

TVG: I don’t understand — if the soaps’ primary audience is black, why does daytime employ such oppressive ideals? Almost enthusiastically and unashamedly, I may add.
JR: [sighs] I find it very hard to understand, my friend. As a rule, soaps don’t consider minority characters important.

TVG: Yet, the oppressed often hold the truth in society — and the most heart-wrenching stories.
JR: Nighttime shows like Lost have disproved the soap opera module… their popularity is based on their diverse casts, not in spite of their diverse cast. Soaps need to take note of this and look into their intentions more deeply.

TVG: Is part of the problem the lack of black writers on daytime? Personally, I don’t consider this an excuse. If you’re a human being, you should be able to write about human beings regardless of colour, sexuality or sex. Thoughts?
JR: Listen, I’ve been an actor for a long time and I’ve worked in most mediums. Entertainment, in general, needs more minorities behind the camera, for sure. I would say every story I’ve been involved in is a story any actor can play. Every front burner storyline that I’ve seen on soaps, I would also say any actor could play. You don’t need to have an ethnic storyline — all you need is a good story and the audience will respond.

TVG: It’s such a simple idea. With no disrespect intended, I can't help but wonder if the powers-that-be are really intellectually challenged. I loved, loved, loved Generations, and it really broke my heart when trigger-happy NBC cancelled it, which is why I don’t trust it to renew Days completely. Would Generations prosper if it aired today?
JR: I think it would be extremely successful. At the end of the day, it does come down to how the show is marketed. Let me put it this way: I get a lot of fans approach me on the street, and each time, I am almost certain that they’re going to congratulate me on playing Abe, but no, they reach out their hand and tell me, ‘I enjoyed you on Generations.’

TVG: It also takes at least five years to build an audience [Generations was cancelled after two years] for a new soap.
JR: Exactly. Another problem was that it was in a good and a bad timeslot. We aired before Days, which was good, but it was also against the second-half hour of Y&R. However, Generations still pulled numbers that would be considered very high today. As actors, we tried very hard to promote the show, but alas, in the end, nothing worked.

TVG: Do you still speak to Sally Sussman Morina — and what is she up to these days?
JR: I saw Sally the other day. Her husband, Tony Morina is producing Y&R, and she’s always looking for a show or pitching a show. I’m sure we’ll hear from her in the future.

TVG: Congratulations on all the show’s Emmy pre-nominations this year.
JR: We’re very happy about who’s representing us this year. One of my goals in life is to win an Emmy with Days. It’s hard because we’re the only soap on NBC, and though we know other daytime stars, people are going to bloc vote for their own team. Being alone on NBC is why we are ignored. It certainly helped me to get a nomination for Generations when there were three soaps on the network. It’s an unfair system, but there’s hope, NATAS keeps tweaking the system so it’s fairer each year.

TVG: All My Children has written a spectacular comeback storyline for Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams [Angie and Jesse] — have you been watching?
JR: Yes, and you’re right, it’s been inspiring to watch. My only hope is that continues.

TVG: Which black actors do you respect in daytime?
JR: Kristoff St. John [Neil, The Young and the Restless] and Renée, obviously, but also One Life to Live’s Timothy Stickney [R.J.], who unfortunately is back burner most of the time. It’s a shame, really, because he’s so talented. These three actors represent their shows, their profession and their cultures with such class, wisdom and talent.

TVG: Using that criterion, I would add your name to that list, too.

 

 

 

 

Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and In Touch Weekly, along with covering soaps for TVGuide.ca. He got his professional start in 1997 as Senior News Editor at Soap Opera Update, and has freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly, where he interned in 1994, and Soaps In Depth.